The Impact of American Popular Culture on Society
1. Introduction
In the United States, popular culture has been an increasingly influential force in society since the early twentieth century. It is created and disseminated by the mass media and is consumed by the American public. Popular culture consists of the values, beliefs, and behaviors that are considered common in American society. It includes the ways that people dress, speak, and behave in public. It also includes the things that people eat, watch, and listen to in their leisure time. Popular culture has been studied by sociologists, anthropologists, historians, and psychologists.
2. Inventory of American popular culture
In order to understand the impact of American popular culture on society, it is necessary to first inventory what is considered American popular culture. American popular culture is typically divided into four categories: entertainment, mass media, values, and lifestyles.
Entertainment includes the various forms of entertainment that are popular in America such as television, movies, music, and sports. Mass media refers to the different ways that Americans receive information such as television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the internet. Values are the beliefs that Americans hold about what is important in life such as freedom, democracy, individualism, and materialism. Lifestyles are the ways that Americans live their lives such as the way they spend their leisure time, the way they raise their families, and the way they work.
3. American popular culture and its different patterns
Despite the fact that American popular culture is divided into four categories, there are actually three different patterns of American popular culture. The first pattern is called highbrow culture. Highbrow culture consists of the things that are considered to be high quality or elite such as classical music, opera, ballet, and fine art. This type of culture is typically consumed by people who have a lot of money and education. The second pattern is called middlebrow culture. Middlebrow culture consists of things that are considered to be more mainstream or middle class such as pop music, Hollywood movies, Broadway shows, and professional sports. This type of culture is typically consumed by people who have some money and education. The third pattern is called lowbrow culture. Lowbrow culture consists of things that are considered to be low quality or working class such as reality TV shows, rap music, action movies, and pro wrestling. This type of culture is typically consumed by people who have little money and education.
4. The impact of American popular culture on society
The impact of American popular culture on society can be seen in many different ways. One way is through the economy. The popularity of certain forms of entertainment can lead to economic growth in certain industries. For example, the popularity of reality TV shows has led to an increase in employment in the television industry. Another way that American popular culture can impact society is through values and beliefs. The values and beliefs that are promoted in popular culture can influence the way that people think and behave in society. For example, the value of individualism that is promoted in many forms of entertainment can lead people to act more selfishly in their everyday lives. Finally, American popular culture can also impact society through social change. The things that are popular in American society often change over time. This can lead to changes in behavior and attitudes among the population. For example, the popularity of computers and mobile phones has led to a change in how people communicate with each other.